Washer.



No; 759,599. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. O. G. ETTE.

WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

portion having an ogee contour.

washer is well known and can be seen upon.

Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES Gr. ETTE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,599, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed January 29. 1904. Serial No. 191,189. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OIIARLns Gr. E'r'rn, acitizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in \Vashers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying d rawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, showing the present washer applied. Fig. 2 is an outer face view of the washer. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, and Fig. 4f is a bottom face view.

This invention relates to improvements in washers, and more particularly to washers commonly employed in connection with tierods and the like used for withstanding heavy strains, such as in bridge construction, roof construction, &c.

One object is to provide a washer which can be cheaply manufactured, is light, is very strong, and is capable of being made as a malleable casting.

To these ends the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

Washers of the general character of the present are used in very large quantities. As heretofore constructed they have consisted. of a solid casting having a circular base and a circular top or outer portion of less diameter than the base, the base and top portion being connected by what may be termed a body Such a almost any building or other structure cmploying tie-rods. In order to produce these old washers upon a commercial basis, it has been customary to cast them from the scraps of a foundry, so that a very poor grade of metal has gone into these washers. The washers are therefore brittle and easily broken. Furthermore, in order to give the washers of the old type the strength necessary to withstand the strain to which they are sub- JGCtGd when in position it has been necessary to make them relatively thick. For an inch bolt or tie-rod, for example, the standard washer of the old type is an inch thick from. face to rear. The old washers in order to have the strength necessary to Withstand the strain placed upon them when in position have also been made solid, so that for use upon an inch bolt or tie-rod the standard washer heretofore constructed has weighed about two pounds. This old washer therefore is made of poor material and is therefore brittle and easily broken in transit and handling, is heavy, and is also thick, so that it occupies considerable space, the thickness of the washer of course affecting the length of the tie-rod or bolt, and thickness and weight of the washer being a large item in freight.

The present washer can be produced and sold more cheaply than can the old washer just above described, is thinner and lighter than is the old washer, and can be produced of malleable iron, thus being stronger than the old, heavier, and thicker washer.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the central ring of the washer, through the opening of which the tierod or bolt is adapted to pass in a well-understoodmanner, and 2 indicates what may be termed the outer face-web, which extends laterally from the outer end of said ring. The laterallyextending rear or base web 3 is ring-shaped and is of greater diame i361 than is the outer face-web .2, the outer edge of the outer face-web 2 being connected to the inner edge of the base-web 3 by an outwardly and rearwardly inclining connectingweb 4:. Strengthening-ribs 5 extend radially upOn'the inner side of the washer and connect the ring 1, the webs 2 and 3, and the con necting-web i, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and strengthening-ribs 6 upon the outer side of the washer extend radially and connect the webs 2 and 3 and the connecting-web 4, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The thickness of material of the various webs and the ribs is substantially uniform. The construction presents what may be termed a hollowed-out portion 7 between the ring 1 and the connecting-web 4, with strengthening-ribs 5 extending across this hollowed-out portion.

Because'of the differences in thickness of the parts of the old washer previously referred to proper and satisfactory annealing of the washer would be difficult to secure, for were the washer simply subjected to heat in the usual manner if the thickest portion be properly annealed the thinner portions will be burned, while if the thinner portions be properly annealed the thickest portion will not be sufiiciently annealed and will remain brittle. The present washer having its webs and ribs of substantially uniform thickness can be annealed,and thus toughened,without difficulty. The ribs 5 not only strengthen the whole washer, but also present additional bearingsurfaces upon the inner side of the washer, whereby danger of causing the inner edge of the ring 1 to cut into wooden beams or the like is obviated. The present washer having only the relatively thin webs and ribs weighs very little and is much thinner from front to rear than is the old washer used for the same class of work. As a matter of fact it has been found that a washer constructed in accordance with the present invention for use upon a one-inch tie-rod or bolt is not only stronger than the standard washer heretofore constructed for a bolt or tie-rod of such size and cannot only be produced more cheaply than the more brittle, thicker, and heavier washer of the old type, but the present washer for use upon a one-inch bolt or tie-rod weighs only about three-quarters of a pound (the old washer weighs about two pounds) and is only a half inch in thickness. (The old washer is an inch in thickness.) This difference in thickness permits more of the present washers to be packed in a car or other space and also permits reduction in the length of the tie rods or bolts used with the washers. Furthermore, the difference in weight acts with the difference in thickness to effect a great saving in freight. The difference in thickness effects saving in the length of the tie-rods or bolts and the difference in thickness and weight effects reduction in the load to be borne by the structure, such as a bridge or roof. WVhen it is considered that not infrequently thousands of the washers and tie-rods are used in abridge or roof, it will be apparent that the present washer permits a great reduction of load. The load is reduced not only by reason of the fact that the present washeritself is much lighter than is the old washer, but also by reason of the fact that with inch tie-rodsa halfinch is saved in the length of the rod at each end.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A washer comprising a central ring, an outer face-web extending laterally from the outer end of said ring, a base-web spaced from said ring at the inner end of the latter, a connecting-web connecting the outer edge of said outer face-web and the inner edge of said baseweb, and inner ribs extending between said webs and said ring and having edges substantially alining with the inner edge of said ring; substantially as described.

2. A washer comprising a central ring, an outer face web extending laterally from the outer end of said ring, abase-web spaced from said ring at the inner end of the latter, aconnecting-web connecting the outer edge of said outer face-web and the inner edge of said baseweb, inner ribs extending between said webs and said ring and having edges substantially alining with the inner edge of said ring, and outer strengthening-ribs extending between and connected to said outer face-web and said base-web and also connected to said connecting-web; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses,this 18th day of January, 1904.

CHARLES G. ETTE.

Witnesses:

EDW. P. KYLE, WILLIAM B. POWER. 

